Dubuque Sheriff's Office nets $742,000 after investigation

Posted:
Friday, February 8, 2013 7:37 PM EST

DUBUQUE (KWWL) -

A multi-year investigation in the Dubuque area lead Friday to a check for $742,707 to the Dubuque County Sheriff's Office.

The funds are forfeiture proceeds following the federal investigation and prosecution of a scheme in 2006 and 2007, in which four people from the Dubuque area stole and then sold meat from interstate trucking shipments.

The sheriff's office worked on the case for several years, with Sgt. Dave Riniker leading the charge.

"Ultimately, it paid off in more ways than one," Dubuque County sheriff Don Vrotsos said. "What more can we ask for? We have a successful prosecution, we have individuals that were responsible for the stealing of the meat are in jail and that, and then we also get $742,000."

Vrotsos said his office plans to use the money to purchase Tasers - it doesn't currently own any - plus acquire a weapons simulator and help purchase land for a new law enforcement training shooting range.